Pope Paul then made him Chief Architect of Saint Peter’s.  Michelangelo knew the difficulties to be encountered—­the bickerings, jealousies and criticisms that were inseparable from the work—­and was only moved to accept the place on Pope Paul’s declaration that no one else could do as well, and that it was the will of God.  Michelangelo looked upon the performance as a duty and accepted the task, refusing to take any recompense for his services.  He continued to discharge the duties of the office under the direction of Popes Paul, Pius the Fourth and Pius the Fifth.  In all he worked under the pontificates of seven different popes.

The dome of Saint Peter’s, soaring to the skies, is his finest monument.  The self-sustaining, airy quality in this stupendous structure hushes the beholder into silence; and yet that same quality of poise, strength and sufficiency marks all of the work of this colossus, whether it be painting, architecture or sculpture.  America has paid tribute to Michelangelo’s genius by reproducing the dome of Saint Peter’s over the Capitol at Washington.

Michelangelo died at Rome, aged eighty-nine, working and planning to the last.  His sturdy frame showed health in every part, and he ceased to breathe just as a clock runs down.  His remains were secretly taken to Florence and buried in the church of Santa Croce.  A fine bust marks the spot, but the visitor can not help feeling a regret that the dust of this marvelous man does not rest beneath the zenith of the dome of Saint Peter’s at Rome.

* * * * *

Sitting calmly in this quiet corner, and with closed eyes, viewing Michelangelo’s life as a whole, the impression is one of heroic strength, battling with fierce passions, and becoming victor over them by working them up into art.  The mold of the man was masculine, and the subdued sorrow that flavors his whole career never degenerates into sickly sentimentality or repining.

The sonnets of Michelangelo, recently given to the world, were written when he was nearly seventy years old.  Several of the sonnets are directly addressed to Vittoria Colonna, and no doubt she inspired the whole volume.  A writer of the time has mentioned his accidentally finding Michelangelo and Vittoria Colonna seated side by side in the dim twilight of a deserted church, “talking soft and low.”  Deserted churches have ever been favorite trysting-places for lovers; and one is glad for this little glimpse of quiet and peace in the tossing, troubled life-journey of this tireless man.  In fact, the few years of warm friendship with Vittoria Colonna is a charmed and temperate space, without which the struggle and unrest would be so ceaseless as to be appalling.  Sweet, gentle and helpful was their mutual friendship.  At this period of Michelangelo’s life we know that the vehemence of his emotions subsided, and tranquility and peace were his for the rest of his life, such as he had never known before.